Posts Categorized: Reading fiction

Crime Fiction Sidekicks

  Sherlock Holmes had Watson. Poirot had Captain Hastings. The crime fiction sidekick is an integral character in many of the most popular mystery series – and for good reason. Sidekicks help move the story along and serve as surrogates for readers – asking the same questions we’re wondering and offering our own theories and… Continue Reading Crime Fiction Sidekicks »

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2014 Edgar Award Winners

  It was an exciting night in New York when the winners of the 2014 Edgar Awards were announced by the Mystery Writers of America at a gala celebration last month. Acclaimed mystery writers Robert Crais and Carolyn Hart received the Grandmasters Award, and the Egdars also heralded the arrival of some exciting new voices… Continue Reading 2014 Edgar Award Winners »

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How Emotional Intelligence Helps You Enjoy Good Fiction

  Did you know that emotional intelligence is directly linked to personal and professional success? Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the way we perceive and cope with the emotions of others and ourselves. In other words, it improves a person’s social effectiveness. Individuals with high EI are more self-aware than others and report a higher… Continue Reading How Emotional Intelligence Helps You Enjoy Good Fiction »

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Can Reading Fiction Make You Healthier?

People who don’t read are missing out on the health benefits of reading fiction. Of course, you’d expect an author of crime novels to say something like that. But it’s true. There’s increasing scientific evidence that reading might improve mental and physical health. I’ve written a couple of posts in the past about this. Check… Continue Reading Can Reading Fiction Make You Healthier? »

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What Makes a Book Club Great – the People, the Books, or the Wine?

So you want to start a book club. Book clubs have been around a long time – long before the Internet and Oprah Winfrey. But, both the Internet and Oprah’s high profile book club seems to have breathed new life into the idea in recent years. I’ve never hosted a book club, but from what… Continue Reading What Makes a Book Club Great – the People, the Books, or the Wine? »

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Tips for a Better Fiction Reading Experience

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” ~Joseph Addison Any type of reading takes time and effort. But when you read for school or work, it’s completely different than fiction reading for pleasure. With leisure fiction, you’re giving your free time to the author and entering into a new world –… Continue Reading Tips for a Better Fiction Reading Experience »

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Reading Novels Can Make Big Changes in Your Brain

If you’re like so many others, you’re probably reviewing a list of New Year resolutions you’ve written down or made a mental note of in your mind. Studies have shown that breaking bad habits (and creating new, good ones) requires a rewiring of the brain. According to a recent study conducted by researchers at the… Continue Reading Reading Novels Can Make Big Changes in Your Brain »

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